Citroen team lodged an appeal this morning against a two-minute penalty for an illegal tyre change which could cost Frenchman Sebastien Loeb a win in the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally.
Loeb, who has held a surprise lead from the start of the three-day event, is accused of having the tyres changed on his Xsara in a service area which is banned under the rally's rules, organisers said.
But Citroen believe the penalty is too heavy and have appealed. However the appeal cannot be considered until after the next rally, in Sweden on February 1st-3rd.
That means that if Loeb wins by less than two minutes in Monte Carlo - he has a 44.6sec lead over Tommi Makinen of Finland with two stages left on today's third and final day - he could later lose the win depending on the decision of the international appeals board.
AFP